Lapland

Susan Lapham January 28, 2021 Compromise,Musings,Revealed Quilts,Susan Lapham

Susan J Lapham, Vienna, Virginia USA

Susan J Lapham, Lapland, 40″ x 42″ 2021

Two years after my father died, my mother moved to Vienna, Virginia with her 82 year old mother. A year later my husband and I bought the house behind my mother and moved there with our three young children. Five years later my third youngest brother and his new wife bought the house next door. Then my second youngest brother moved into the other house next door and my youngest brother bought the house next door to that. Thirty years later, our family compound consists of six homes, three generations ranging from 11 to 90, 10 cats and dogs, and a whole lot of love. We’ve raised children, buried grandparents, hosted exchange students, welcomed relatives and friends and friends of friends.

Together we share a prolific vegetable garden, lovely paths through the woods, a common tool shed, a shared kitchen pantry, and the most amazing fire pit. We have a nurse and a doctor, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, volunteer extraordinaire, and auto mechanic, a home builder, handy-man, wood-chopper, a computer geek, a writer, researcher, and an artist. We share wisdom and family history and sage advice. Our children play tag and capture the flag, find frogs and salamanders and snakes. They run away to grandma’s house and make crafts in the studio. And we gather each evening at the fire pit to share our day and maybe a marshmallow.

We’re often asked how it all works. It’s simple really. Compromise. Give and take. We care more for each other, and for what we have, than being right. We let things go – we forgive. We adjust our expectations, give and take, compromise. Lapland.

Lapland vegetable garden and tool shed
One of the many paths through the Lapland woods. This one leads to brother Tom’s house.
Evening gathering at the firepit – socially distanced, of course! Mother’s house is in the back ground and behind her house is brother Tim’s house.
Lapland detail 1
Lapland detail 2

Lapland
Susan J Lapham
40″ x 42″
Hand-dyed cotton solids, machine pieced, long-arm quilted.

23 thoughts on “Lapland”

  1. Pingback: Light My Fire – Cloth in Common

  6. What a great interpretation of the theme, I love everything about it! Would love to see more detail pictures of the work.

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  7. What an amazing quilt…love every step of the making. Celebrate the precious time/life experiences together with those who mean the most to your family. I am envious and wish that I could circle my children and their families closer. Blessings.

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    1. Thank you Bethany. Yes, we know we are so fortunate to have each other and to be close, especially during the pandemic. Built in grocery shoppers for my mother, dog and cat sitters for those who have to go to work, and evening chats to touch base during this time of isolation.

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  9. How wonderful! It must take patience and a “live and let live” attitude as well as compromise. Your art has thrived so it’s working for you! What a blessing to have each other.

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    1. What a brilliant story of life as it happens. Compromise is the magic that makes it all possible, and your visual about the family compound is an excellent explanation how it can work. I love it all.

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  11. I went to school with a Susan Lapham in Scotia, NY. I don’t know if you are that Susan, but your family compound sounds wonderful and so is your quilt. Congratulations on your great life choices. I am also a quilter.

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    1. How interesting! I went to high school in Mamaroneck NY so not me but I have many relatives on my father’s side from upstate NY. We are probably related as 3rd or 4th cousins. Thanks for kind words.

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